Faculty & Staff

Owner/Managing Director

Vikkie started dancing at the age of 2. She has taken instruction from several local dance studios, Broadway Dance Center in NYC, Garth Fagan, as well as the late Timothy Draper. She has over 30 years of teaching experience in the area, including operating her own dance studio for several years. As a performer she was in The Bob of Sesame Street Show and The Atlanta Ballet Company’s rendition of The Nutcracker. She was the head choreographer for the Mrs. NY America Pageant and The Monroe County Fair Kids. Her choreography has won several awards over the years, including high score honors and several special judge’s awards at the local and national levels. She has taken certification courses in Progressive Contemporary Technique. Some of her former students have gone on to dance in NYC and teach at other dance studios, and even own their own dance studios as well. In addition, Vikkie has judged several dance competitions in NYS and Monroe County Fair Talent Shows. Vikkie also competed in pre-teen and teen pageants and won the title of Miss Rochester Western NY Pre-Teen. She has modeled for Barbizon, Champion Sports, John Robert Powers, Fisher Price, and Kodak. Vikkie holds a BS in Business Management.

Co-Owner/Director

Meaghan grew up in the Rochester area and danced competitively until she graduated high school. During this time she taught her own groups and private lessons both at the recreational and competitive levels and spent three years teaching dance at multiple day care centers in the area to children ages 2-12 years old. While pursuing her NYS teaching certification at Nazareth College, she continued to work in the dance field in various capacities, including solo choreography, assisting with choreography for local high school dance and cheer teams, and working as a judge's assistant at regional dance competitions in the Rochester and Syracuse areas. Meaghan holds her BS and MS in Arts Education from Nazareth College and has been teaching high school visual art for 19 years. Throughout this time she has also choreographed for a local high school dance team and coached & choreographed high school JV cheer. For the last five years Meaghan has worked as a dance instructor at a local studio, teaching and choreographing students of all ages and abilities, for both the recreational and competitive levels. Her dances have received awards at the regional and national level for technique, choreography, and partner work, among other things. In these various capacities, Meaghan has also gained experience with coordinating fundraising, costuming, backstage management, marketing, and various administrative duties. She has received training in many aspects of educating and working with children, including Trauma Informed Teaching, the Dignity for All Students Art, Concussion Symptoms & Management, and Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Prevention, along with First Aid and CPR. In addition to local professional development training courses in tumbling progressions, spotting, and acrobatics, she has also taken several online courses in choreography and dance transitions, along with acrobatic progressions, drills, tricks, & spotting through ADTA.

Ballet Instructor & Choreographer

Youri is a professional ballet dancer and seasoned teacher with a deep commitment to the classical tradition of dance. He began his training under Diane Lewis at the Hochstein School of Dance and continued his studies at the Draper Center for Dance Education, Nutmeg Conservatory, and Next Generation Ballet. He joined the Rochester City Ballet in 2013 where he performed in many ballets including George Balanchine’s Serenade, The Nutcracker, Jeff Tyzik’s Images, Cinderella, and The Ugly Duckling. In 2016, he became one of the first American dancers to train in post-Revolution Cuba with Laura Alonso at Centro ProDanza, and performed classical works such La Bayadere and Don Quixote with Ballet Laura Alonso in Havana. In 2017, he joined the New York State Ballet. Notable NYSB appearances include The Marriage of Figaro (Figaro), The Nutcracker (Russian Soloist, Arabian Soloist), Alice in Wonderland (Mad Hatter), Romeo and Juliet (Paris), Dracula (Arthur Holmwood), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander), Grand Pas de Deux from Paquita, and soloist roles in Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem, and Gershwin and Gatsby. Youri also spent summers dancing at Burklyn Ballet Theater in Johnson, Vermont, where he performed soloist and principal roles in numerous classical and contemporary works. Youri has over a decade of teaching and coaching experience and has taught at Studio East Dance Company, Premier Dance Center, New York State Ballet, the Draper Center, Dance Dimensions, Pittsford Dance Studio, and the University of Rochester. His students have gone on to attend summer programs at Burklyn Ballet Theater, New York State Ballet, and the Draper Center, and have been accepted into college programs at Nazareth University, NYU, Marymount Manhattan, and SUNY Purchase. Youri’s teaching is influenced by the Cuban method, which emphasizes athleticism, precision footwork, alignment, and control.

Ballet Instructor & Choreographer

Margaret began dancing at the age of three, attending Little Red Dance Studio until the age of 13 when she decided to train intensively in ballet at The Draper Center for Dance Education. Margaret attended summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Sarasota Ballet in addition to her year-round training during her years as a student. After graduating high school, Margaret moved to Sarasota, FL to train at the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory of the Sarasota Ballet. The following spring, Margaret was offered a professional contract back in Rochester with New York State Ballet after guesting in their spring show. During her time at New York State Ballet, Margaret performed principal roles such as Alice in “Alice in Wonderland,” Carmen in “Carmen,” and Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet.” Other notable roles included Snow Queen, Harlequin Doll, and Spanish in “The Nutcracker,” as well as Lucy in “Dracula,” and Lacrimosa pas de deux in “Mozart’s Requiem.” Margaret expanded her versatility by attending the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Winter Intensive and taking numerous classes at Steps on Broadway in New York City. Margaret returned to Rochester City Ballet in 2019 and was able to perform English in “The Nutcracker” before the 2020 pandemic. She has freelanced since working with independent choreographers performing in New York City, Virginia, Maryland, Saratoga Springs, and the Rochester Fringe Festival. She has been teaching for the past six years, sharing her years of knowledge with the up-and-coming generation of dancers. Alongside teaching, Margaret obtained her Associates Degree in Applied Business Sciences and is working towards her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

Instructor & Choreographer

Lindsey is a choreographer, dance instructor, and fitness professional based in Upstate New York. She has over 20 years of experience in the dance and fitness industries working alongside top choreographers and fitness professionals in Los Angeles and New York City. As a dancer she has appeared in television, film, live shows, music videos, and fitness videos. Her choreography has won multiple awards in contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and musical theater. She is passionate about helping each dancer learn how to use their body in the most efficient way possible while cultivating their artistic voice and embracing what makes them unique. Lindsey is the owner of Lindsey Miller Fitness (@lindseymillerfitness) providing one on one, small group training and sport performance workshops for youth athletes. She is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor, Sugarfoot Certified Trainer, as well as a trainer for Dailyburn.com, a Master Trainer for Barre Above and Director of Master Trainer Education for PlyoJam Cardio Dance Fitness. She is the creator of The Remedy, a mobility program for optimized dance and sport performance. As a personal trainer, instructor and motivator, she is committed to providing fun, innovative, creative and scientifically effective programming that promotes a healthy body as well as a healthy mind.

Instructor & Choreographer

Melissa has been teaching and choreographing in the Rochester area for 25 years. She specializes in all ages and levels of tap, various genres of pre-school and early dance, as well as acro/tumbling. She has studied with masters in the tap industry, including Santo Giglio, Germaine Salsberg, and Anthony Morigerato. Melissa has taught at five local studios--most recently at Ruckus Dance Alliance as their primary tap, acro, and pre-school teacher, as well as at DK Dance. Her tap choreography has won top awards at regional and national competitions. She also started the dance program at Forever Friends Child Care in Irondequoit, which she ran for four years. Classes there included creative movement and early childhood tap, jazz, and ballet. Melissa is so excited to join our faculty and share her experience and love of tap with our students!

Instructor & Administrative Staff

Nicole grew up in the Rochester area and danced for a local studio where she trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, and hip hop. She also served as their recital stage manager and co-taught dance classes and camps. Nicole has an Associates Degree in Human Services and is TA certified. She has been working for a local school district for six years, and in this position has received training in DASA, SAVE, and Child Abuse Identification, along with receiving training in CPR and First Aid through other previous employment. Throughout the last five years she has brought her experience and love of dance back into her life, and began assisting with ballet, tap, hip hop, and tumbling classes. She has co-taught dance camps for a local studio and coordinated some of their fundraising. She has experience teaching dance classes for young children to attend with an adult, and has now gone on to adapt and create her own program. We are so excited to have Nicole bring all of this experience to Flower City Dance as the head teacher of our First Steps classes, Creative Movement program, and our dance camps. She will also be helping to coordinate/facilitate various fundraisers like Hoops Mania and working at the front desk.

Instructor & Choreographer

Julie was born and raised in Rochester and is currently residing in Ontario. She began dancing at the age of 4 years old at Little Red Dance School and started competing at the age of 7. Julie has competed at the Regional and National levels up and down the East Coast and in Canada. She began teaching and choreographing at the age of 15 at Dance FX and opened her own studio, Dynamite Dance, at the age of 22, where she was the Artistic Director for five years. After she started her family, she sadly closed the doors on her studio to be home more with her children, but still continued to teach at other local studios. Julie has choreographed the “Welcome Santa” parade and show for many years at multiple Rochester and Buffalo malls, along with choreographing musicals such as The Wizard of Oz, Bye Bye Birdie, and Annie for local middle and high schools. Additionally, she has taught exploratory dance classes at Greece Odyssey High School to dancers of all levels. For many years Julie made annual trips to NYC to train and take classes at the Broadway Dance Center in all genres to better herself as a dancer and teacher. Her work as a dancer and choreographer has won many special awards, as well as title and high score awards at competitions such as Star Systems, Star Power, Rising Star, Imagine Dance Challenge, and Summerdanse. She has also competed in local pageants and won titles at Sunburst, North America Miss, and All American Girl. Julie is currently working full time as a Sourcing Manager for Kodak Alaris and is pursuing her MBA.

Instructor & Choreographer

Kelsey has been dancing since she was three years old, including eleven years of competitive dance. She has danced at local studios all the way through high school, where she also worked as a teacher's assistant. Kelsey's favorite style of dance is tap and she also enjoys musical theatre and hip hop. Currently, Kelsey is a student at Nazareth University where she studies Sociology, Religious Studies, and Digital Marketing. Kelsey is also a collegiate athlete; she runs Division III Cross Country and Indoor & Outdoor Track. During college, she has kept dance a part of her life as a member of the Dare2Dance club at Nazareth University. We are so excited to have Kelsey share her tap experience and love of the genre with our students.

Administrative Staff

Kacey grew up in Victor and took classes in ballet, tap, and jazz throughout her childhood. As a young adult she danced as part of the dance line of the Empire Statesmen, including their 2004 World Championship winning season. She loves working with children and teens and is currently a Youth Leader in her church. She is also a Girl Scout Troop Leader for a local troop. Working in these capacities is something she has always enjoyed and she loves building relationships and connections with FCD students and families as well. Her organization skills play a key role in many of our events and fundraisers, and her knowledge of computer software lends itself perfectly to this role.

Administrative Staff

Bio coming soon!

Guest Choreographer

Lauren grew up in the Rochester area and trained as a competitive dancer for thirteen years. Throughout this time she studied under award-winning choreographers and instructors, with a focus on ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, and acro. As a dancer, her solos received top adjudications and placements at both the regional and national levels, along with many judge’s awards for technique, musicality, and performance quality. Lauren performed in The Painter at The Fringe Festival for two years, and was a featured soloist last year. She will begin solo choreography for us after graduation and will be attending the University of Kentucky in the fall with a major in chemical engineering.

Guest Instructor & Choreographer

Rachael is an Anthropology major in the University of South Carolina Honors College, and though she has a passion for archaeology and museum work, dance came first. Rachael has been dancing since she was two years old and started competing at the age of six. She danced in the Rochester area until her high school graduation in 2022 and is trained in tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical. As a competitive dancer, she received high score awards and placements; as a choreographer, her experience is in lyrical and contemporary; and as a dance instructor, she has taught students ages 2-18 in many styles of dance, including tap, jazz, and ballet. She still dances in college whenever she gets the chance, and she founded, ran, and choreographed for the USC dance club for two years. Rachael has worked with Miss Vikkie for years and can’t wait to continue contributing to the lives of other dancers finding their own love of the art.

Guest Choreographer

In her early dance years, Morgan received a variety of training in upstate New York to gain well-rounded experience in hip hop, tap, ballet, contemporary, modern, and jazz. She also has training in precision jazz from Exactitude Dance in New York City, in addition to receiving training in professional sports entertainment from Bryan Yoakum and the Celtics Dancers. After spending the majority of her childhood dancing competitively, Morgan went on to complete a dance minor at Nazareth University, where she received additional training in modern and ballet. While at Nazareth, Morgan was also on the dance team, where she was named captain her senior year. As captain, Morgan was able to gain significant choreographic experience, choreographing approximately 10 routines that year, including a piece the team competed at UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida in January 2023. She completed her Master’s of Occupational Therapy in May of 2024, simultaneously teaching dance throughout her years in college. Morgan has been choreographing solos for some of our advanced dancers for two years, winning top awards at the regional and national levels. She loves having the opportunity to share her passion for dance with the youth in her community!